Vibratory conveyor-mixer apparatus



Jan. 10, 1967 E. A. WAHL 3,297,304

VIBRATORY CONVEYOR-MIXER APPARATUS Filed Feb. 8, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet lEUGENE A. WAHL INVENTOR ORNEY um www Jan. 1Q, 1967 E. A. WAHL 3,297,304

United States Patent Oft-ice Patented Jan. 10, 1967 3,297,304 VBRATORYCONVEYGR-MIXER APPARATUS Eugene A. Wahl, 294 Forest Ave., Glen Ridge,NJ. 07418 Filed Feb. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 431,074 13 Claims. (Cl. 259-2)This invention relates lto a vibratory conveyor-mixer and moreparticularly to .apparatus for receiving granular or powdered materialsat one end, mixing the materials and discharging the mixture at theother end.

Suitable -apparatus is available for receiving granular or powderedmaterial from a supply hopper and discharging such material at aprecise, constant feed rate. In various processes, it is also necessaryto provide a homogeneous mixture of two or more such materials, inpredetermined proportions, -and as a continuous stream. For example, inthe manufacture of chemical fertilizer, it is desirable to coatfertilizer grade urea particles with a dusting clay to preventinterparticle cohesion, thereby to render the product free-flowing atthe point of use. In this particular application, the ratio of ureaparticles to d-usting clay is about to 1. At present, the mixing ofthese materials is effected by passing them through a large, inclined,rotating drum. Such apparatus is expensive, massive and tends to breakdown the urea particles, which is undesirable.

An object of this invention is the provision of apparatus for mixinggranular or powdered materials, which apparatus is `of relatively smallsize, low cost and high capacity.

An `object of this invention is the provision of apparatus for mixinggranular yor powdered materials, which apparatus is of simpleconstruction, provides an eiiicient mixing action, is easy to clean andrequires a minimum maintenance.

An object of this invention is the provision of vibratory conveyor-mixerapparatus adapted to receive granular or powdered materials, intimatelymixing together the materials las they move through the apparatus, anddischarging the mixture at an end thereof in a continuous stream.

An object of ythis invention is the provision of apparatus for mixinggranular or powdered materials, which apparatus comprises means forvibratorily moving the materials as a continuous stream in a generallyhorizontal plane, and a plurality of mixing stages interposed in the`path of ow of the stream, each stage elevating all or a portion of thestream and depositing the elevated portion of the stream upon theremaining portion prior to passage `of the stream to the succeedingmixing stage.

An object of this invention is the provision of mixing apparatus forgranular or powdered materials, which apparatus is arranged to cause acontinuous, vibrated stream of the materials to flow toward Ia dischargeend thereof, -and which apparatus carries a plurality of spaced mixingstages position-ed lin the path of ilow of the stream and effective toprovide a mixing of the materials by gravity fall.

An object of this invention is the provision of apparatus for mixinggranular or powdered materials comprising an elongated, vibrating trougharranged to receive a continuous flow of the materials lat one end andvibratorily mov ing the materials yas a continuous stream toward adischarge end thereof, a plurality of inclined members spacedlongitudinally along the trough, and extending into the path of flow ofthe stream, and means associated with each said member and arranged todirect a predetermined portion of the stre-am onto the inclined membersin a successive manner.

An object of this invention is the provision of apparatus for mixinggranular or powdered materials, said apparatus comprising a vibratabletrough adapted to receive the materials yat the receiving end andvibratorily transporting them toward the discharge end, and a pluralityof mixing stages spaced longitudinally within the trough and in the pathof the material flow, each stage effective to divide the material owinto separated portions 'and depositing .the one portion over the other.

An object of this invention is the provision of a method for vibratorilymixing predetermined portions of granular or powdered materials topr-ovide .a homogeneous mixture thereof.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing description when taken with the accompanying drawingsillustrating several embodiments of the invention. It will beunderstood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustrationand are not to be construed as defining the scope or limits of theinvention, reference being had for the latter purpose to the claimswhich are appended hereto.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote like parts inthe several views:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of vibratory conveyor-mixerapparatus embodying this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view thereof and showing one form of the mixingstages;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 4 is 4an enlarged, fragmentary, isometric view of the apparatusshown in FIGURES 1-3;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are transverse, cross-sectional views taken along thelines V-V and VI-VLrespectively, of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary, isometric view similar to FIGURE 4 4andshowing another form of the mixing stage;-and

FIGURE 8 is a similar view and showing still another form of the mixingstage.

Reference now is made to FIGURES 1-3, wherein there is shown anelongated trough 10, of generally U- shape in cross-section, vibratorilysupported on a channel iron 11 by means of the flexible leaf springs 12.The channel iron is secured to a flat base 13 provided with resilientfeet, or vibration isolators, 14. Centered on, and secured to, thechannel iron is an electric motor 15 and a pair of bearing :blocks 16which rotatably support a shaft 17. The shaft 17 has secured thereto apulley 18, which is coupled to the motor pulley by a V-belt 19. A crankarm 29 has one end eccentrically mounted on the shaft 17 and .the otherend connected to a crank pin 21 which is rotatably coupled to a block22, the said block being welded, or otherwise secured, to the bottom ofthe trough 10.

The apparatus described to this point is a conventional vibratoryconveyor, that is, rotation of the shaft 17 results in an orbitalvibration of the trough in a vertical plane, whereby granular orpowdered materials deposited into the trough, at the left end, arevibratorily transported along the trough and discharge at the opposite,open end thereof.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the left end of the trough is closed by an endplate 25. Spaced from the end plate 25 is a vertical gate 26, which isadjustably mounted to provide a desired clearance area between the lowerside edge of the gate and the bottom of the trough, as will be describedin detail hereinbelow. Longitudinally spaced along the trough and aplurality of material mixing .stages A-E, each stage, in this embodimentof the invention, consisting of an inclined, U-shaped chute andassociated oppositely-disposed, vertical deflection plates.

Referring specifically to the mixing stage A, the deflection plate 28rests upon the trough bottom, has one offset end welded to the chute 27and another offset end welded, or otherwise secured to, the verticalside wall of the trough. The other deflection plate 29 is similarlyconstructed and arranged but reversely disposed. The left end of thechute27 rests upon the trough bottom, whereas the other end of the chuteis elevated a predetermined distance above the trough bottom. Desirably,but `not necessarily, the Width of the chute 27 is substantially equalto one-half that of the trough. The other mixing stages B-E are ofsimilar construction.

The space between the trough end plate 25 and the vertical gate 26constitutes a receiving chamber for one of the materials, whichmaterial, in the case of apparatus used for coating urea particles withdusting clay, would be the urea particles. Such particles can be fedinto the receiving chamber at a constant predetermined rate by means ofconventional material feeder apparatus, said rate being selected tomaintain a steady flow of the material out of the chamber through adischarge opening provided by the gate 26. If, now it be assumed thatsuch discharge opening of the receiving chamber, that is, the spacebetween the lower edge of the gate and the trough bottom is one inch,and that the trough has a width of 12 inches, vibration of the troughwill cause a continuous stream of the urea particles to flow out of thechamber and along the trough bottom, as indicated by the solid arrows,such material stream having a cross-sectional area of 12 square inches.

Referring to the front elevational view of FIGURE 3, this view shows thelast mixing stage (stage E in FIG- URE 2), comprising the chute 27 anddeection plates 28', 29. The area defined by the bottom of the chute andthe two deflection plates is identified by the numeral 32. It is herepointed out that the components of all mixing stages are of similarconstruction and arrangement. It will be clear, then, that if the chute27 (FIGURE 3) has a width of 6 inches and has its elevated end spaced 1inch from the trough bottom, the cross-sectional area of the opening 32,as well as all similar openings of the other mixing stages, is 6 squareinches.

Referring again to FIGURE 2, the clay dusting powder is applied in acontinuous stream by means of conventional material feeder apparatus,directly onto the moving stream of urea particles at a point between thegate 26 and the first mixing stage. Since the urea particles are undercontinuous vibration, some mixing action takes place as the stream movesto the first mixing stage. This composite stream of material is dividedinto three distinct portions at the mixing stage A, a first portionflowing along the vertical defiection gate 28, a second portion flowingalong the deliection plate 29 and the third, central portion flowing upthe inclined chute 27. If the dusting powder is applied centrally to theflowing stream of urea particles, a greater percentage of the powderwill flow up the inclined chute than along the two deflection plates.However, this is of no particular `consequence in the overall operationof the apparatus. The two portions of the stream passing along thedeflection plates flow together under the elevated bottom of the chuteand are recombined as they pass under the elevated chute end. Thatportion of the stream which moves vibratorily up the inclined chutefalls upon the underlying portion of the stream.

One advantageous characteristic of the vibrating trough is the spreadingout of the vibrated material to a substantially uniform depth across theentire width of the trough. Such material-spreading action is effectedover a relatively short length of the trough. Hence, the two layers ofthe divided stream, that is, the first layer moving along the troughbottom and under the elevated end of the chute, and the second layerformed by the material falling from the chute end, are immediatelysubjected to a combined mixing and spreading out action, due tovibration. Thus, a fairly well mixed stream, of substantially uniformdepth, reaches mixing stage B. Here, a similar division of the streaminto three sections takes place, with substantially one-half of thestream being elevated and permitted to fall upon the underlying half.Thereafter, the now more thoroughly mixed stream iS spread out tosubstantially uniform depth during its vibratory movement to the thirdmixing stage. The number of mixing stages is selected with regard to theparticular materials to be mixed and the proportion of one material tothe other, all to the end that a continuous stream, having a desireddegree of homogeneity, flows from the discharge end of the trough.

Referring now to the enlarged, fragmentary isometric view of FIGURE 4,it will be seen that the vertical gate 26 is provided with offset ends33, with a vertical, elongated slot formed in each. Fastening bolts 30passes through these slots, which bolts, together with cooperating nuts31, serve as means to secure the gate in fixed position on the troughwith a desired spacing between the gate and the trough bottom. This viewclearly shows the inclined position of the chute 27 having the offsetends of the deflection plates 28 and 29 secured thereto, as by welding.The other offset ends of the deflection plates lies flush against theopposed, inner surfaces of tthe trough side walls and can be securedthereto, as by welding.

FIGURES 5 and 6 are, respectively, transverse crosssectional views takenalong the lines V-V and VI-VI of FIGURE 4. FIGURE 5 is taken along thevertical, medium plane of the chute 27, in which plane the proximatewalls of the deflection plates 28 and 29 are spaced from the verticalwalls of the chute. On the other hand, FIGURE 6 is taken along avertical plane spaced from the chute 27 and clearly shows the opening 32through which the lower portion of the stream passes as it receives thematerial falling from the elevated end of the chute.

A modified construction of the mixing stages is shown in FIGURE 7. Here,a fiat plate is cut along mutually perpendicular center lines and thecut portion bent upwardly to form the wall 35. The side portions of theplate are then offset to form the sides 36 and 37, which sides fitsnugly within the trough. After inserting the plate into the trough, thebottom is inclined at a desired angle and the vertical sides 36, 37 aresecured to the trough, as by welding, or by means of suitable clamps.When the trough is vibrated, the urea particles move out of the chamberX, through the opening provided by the gate 26, and toward the inclinedplate which constitutes the first mixing stage. The clay dusting powderis applied thereto, as has been described above. Upon reaching themixing stage, the stream is divided into two portions, one portionmoving up the inclined plate section 38 and the other portion passingalong the vertical Wall 35 and under the elevated plate section 39. Dueto the spreading action of the material stream under vibration, asdescribed above, the lower portion 0f the stream spreads out under theinclined plate and emerges from under the plate as a stream ofsubstantially uniform depth. Similarly, the other portion of the stream,which passes up the inclined plate, spreads out to a uniform depth as itpasses beyond the wall 35 and falls upon the underlying stream. Thesucceeding mixing stages are made and arranged in a similar manner, thenumber of such stages being selected to provide the desired degree ofparticle mixing at the discharge end of the trough. Preferably, adjacentmixing stages are reversely disposed relative to each other, that is,the portion of the material stream proximate to the rear wall of thetrough, will be elevated at one stage and the portion proximate to thefront wall will be elevated at the next stage.

longitudinal slot 41, having a Width of about 1 inch, extends from theelevated end of the plate and terminates at a point spaced from theother end. A rst angle plate 42 lies in a plane normal to that of theplate 40 and is welded thereto. The angle plate has a portion 43 formingan angle of approximately 45 degrees with the elevated end of the mainplate and an offset portion 44 which lies flush against the verticalwall of the trough. A second angle plate 42' is similarly constructedand arranged. The offset end portions 44, 44 can be welded, or clamped,to the walls of the trough, thereby securing the assembly in fixedposition with the main plate 40 inclined at a desired angle to thetrough bottom.

As the stream of urea-particles moves from the receiving chamber to theinclined plate, the dusting powder is fed thereon, preferably centrallyof the trough axis. The entire stream of material moves, vibratorily, upthe plate 40 and during such movement progressively more and more of theparticles of both materials fall through the slot. Due to the vibratoryaction of the trough, that material which falls upon the trough bottomtends to spread out while continuing its forward movement. That materialwhich does not fall through the slot, or which does not pass through thevertical opening between the two angle plates, strikes against theplates and is curled back on itself. Since these plates are set at anangle to movement of the material stream, the material which is curledback on itself is directed, generally, in the direction of thelongitudinal slot. This action may be described as a folding actionsince the continuously moving streams create the impression that thematerial, particularly at the upper portion of the inclined plate, isbeing folded into the slot.

The passage of the materials through the slot, the vibrational forwardand spreading-out movement of the material on the trough bottom, and thefalling of additional material onto that lying on the trough, results ina good mixing action. As this mixed stream of materials passes beyondthe elevated end of the inclined plate, it is subjected to a furthermixing and spreading action on its way to the next mixing stage. Here,again, the length of the trough and the number of the mixing stagesspaced longitudinally therealong, is determined by the character of thematerials to be mixed, their proportions, and the desired degree ofhomogeneity desired.

A material conveyor-mixer apparatus made as hereindescribed will providea uniformly-mixed stream of urea particles and dusting clay anddischarge such stream at a rate of 5 cubic feet per minute. Suchdischarge rate can be altered by properly changing the dimensions of themixing stages or changing the trough vibrating frequency and/oramplitude. The apparatus is of relatively small size, low cost andconvenient to move from place to place. The energy required to operatethe apparatus is of a small order, a one-half horse power electric motorbeing suicient to provide the stated 5 cubic feet per minute dischargerate. Importantly, there is a minimum inter-particle attrition andbreakage and the apparatus is easy to clean.

Having now described the construction, arrangement and operation of thevarious components of the conveyormixer, those skilled in this art willbe able to make various changes and modifications to meet specificapplications and conditions of use. Such changes and modifications canbe made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asrecited in the following claims.

While the apparatus has been specifically described to effect a mixingof urea particles and clay dusting powder, it will be apparent -that itwill operate with any granular or powdered materials havingcharacteristics such that they can be subjected to continuous movementon a vibrating surface. Therefore, in the claims, it is intended thatthe term particulated materials applies to any and all materials havingsuch characteristic.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for mixing particulated materials comprising,

(a) an elongated trough adapted to receive the materials at one end,

(b) means vibrating the trough to cause the materials to ow as acontinuous, composite stream toward the other end thereof, and

(c) a plurality of at inclined members carried by the trough and spacedfrom each other along the trough axis, each member having an upstreamend in engagement with the trough bottom and a downstream end spacedabove the trough bottom.

2. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the saidinclined members has -a width less than that of the trough; andincluding side walls extending upwardly from the side edges of eachinclined member, and a pair of deflecting members associated with eachinclined member, said deecting members extending from opposed side wallsof the trough to the elevated end of the associated inclined member andhaving lower side edges in engagement with the trough bottom.

3. The invention as recited in claim 2, wherein the width of eachinclined member is substantially equal to one-half that of the trough.

4. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said inclinedmembers has a longitudinally-extending slot formed therethrough; andincluding a pair of deiiecting plastic carried by each of the inclinedmembers at the elevated end thereof, each pair of said deilecting platesextending angularly from a side wall of the trough to the proximate walldefining said slot.

5. The invention as recited in claim 4, wherein said slot terminates ata point spaced from the lower end of said plate.

6. The invention as recited in claim 4, wherein the said deectingmembers lie in planes normal to that of the said plate.

7. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein the downstream end ofeach inclined member spans the trough and the upstream end has a lengthless than the width of the trough.

8. Apparatus comprising,

(a) an elongated, horizontally-disposed trough,

(b) a chamber for receiving particulated material at one end of thetrough, said chamber having a discharge opening,

(c) a first U-shaped chute having one end spaced from said dischargeopening and abutting the trough bottom and the other end elevated fromthe trough bottom,

(d) a rst pair of vertical deflecting members disposed on opposite sidesof said rst chute, each member having one end abutting the wall of thetrough and the other end in engagement with the side wall of the chuteat the elevated end thereof,

(e) a second U-shaped chute spaced from the first chute, said secondchute having one end abutting the trough bottom at a point spaced fromthe elevated end of the first chute and the other end elevated from thetrough bottom,

(f) a second pair of vertical dellecting members disposed on oppositesides of the second chute, each member having one end abutting the wallof the trough and the other end in engagement with the wall of the chuteat the elevated end thereof, and

(g) means vibrating the trough to effect movement of material from saidchamber to the other end of the trough.

9. The invention as recited in claim 8, wherein the said chutes have awidth substantially equal to one-half that of the trough.

10. The invention as recited in claim 9, wherein all of the saiddeecting members have side edges abutting the trough bottom and whereinthe cross-sectional area of the space under the elevated end of eachchute is substantially equal to one-half that of the said dischargeopening.

11. Apparatus comprising,

(a) an elongated, horizontally-disposed trough,

(b) a chamber for receiving particulated material, said chamber having adischarge opening presented to the trough bottom,

(c) a rst inclined plate spanning the trough and having a lower endabutting the trough bottom at a point spaced from said dischargeopening,

(d) means forming a longitudinal slot on said first inclined plate,which slot extends to the elevated end thereof,

(e) a second inclined plate spanning the trough and having a lower endabutting the trough bottom at a point spaced from the elevated end ofthe said rst inclined plate,

(f) means forming a longitudinal slot in said second plate, which slotextends to the elevated end thereof, and

(g) means vibrating the trough to effect movement of the material fromsaid chamber toward the rst said inclined plate.

12. The invention as recited in claim 11, wherein the said slotsterminate at a point spaced from the lower end of the associated plate,and including a pair of deilecting members carried by each of saidinclined plates at the elevated ends thereof, such deecting membersbeing angularly positioned relative to the axis of the associated plateand extending from opposed side walls of the trough to the proximatewall of the associated slot.

13. The invention as recited in claim 12, wherein each pair of saiddeiiecting members lie in planes normal to that of the associatedinclined plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,208,077 7/ 1940Linke 259-72 3,086,008 4/1953 Opila 259--72 2,646,975 7/ 1953 Waldvogel259-72 WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

R. W. JENKINS, Assistant Examiner.

1. APPARATUS FOR MIXING PARTICULATED MATERIALS COMPRISING, (A) ANELONGATED TROUGH ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE MATERIALS AT ONE END, (B) MEANSVIBRATING THE TROUGH TO CAUSE THE MATERIALS TO FLOW AS A CONTINUOUS,COMPOSITE STREAM TOWARD THE OTHER END THEREOF, AND (C) A PLURALITY OFFLAT INCLINED MEMBERS CARRIED BY THE TROUGH AND SPACED FROM EACH OTHERALONG THE TROUGH AXIS, EACH MEMBER HAVING AN UPSTREAM END IN ENGAGEMENTWITH THE TROUGH BOTTOM AND A DOWNSTREAM END SPACED ABOVE THE TROUGHBOTTOM.